Fraud-prevention means for gasoline pumps



NOV. '27 1923.

. H. KOPP FRAUD PREVENTION MEANS FOR GASOLINE PUMPS Filed Feb. 4. 1922 INVENTOQ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO KOPP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, countyand State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fraud-Prevention Means for a specification.

Thisinvention relates to fraud prevention means for gasoline pumps and the like. Gasoline pumps either of the stationary or portable type, such asare used at service or supply stations are equipped with an integrator mechanism which is automatically operated to indicate the number of gallons .of gasoline which is withdrawn from the tank or reservoir. The pump piston is actuated b a rack and pinion mechanism, the pinion eing operatively' connected by a drive chain to a sprocket wheel operate by means of a suitable crank handle. By the provision of the integrator mechanism, a

check may be kept upon employees by comparing the receipts with the reading on the integrator. However, it is possible to actuate a pump thus equipped without chang ing the reading of the integrator by imparting a short oscillating movement to the crank handle instead of a complete circular movement thereof. Such oscillation of the crank jhandle will be sufficient to'impart a stroke to the gradual into and out of the discharge tube.

pump piston of sufiicient length to y lift the gasoline so that it will flow It is the primary object and purpose of and effective means which will prevent such fraudulent operation of the pump by preventing an oscillating movement of the crank handle the withdrawal of gasoline being possible only b a continuous movement of the crank han le in one direction.

It is a further general object of the invention to provide a device for the above purpose which is simple in construction, as well as positive and reliable in its operation, not liable to get out of order, and which may be applied to existing types of such gasoline pumps at nominal cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved fraud prevention means and in the construction and relative arran ement of its several parts as will be hereina r more fully descr bed,

Gasoline Pumps, of which the following is my present invention to provide simple illustrated in the accompanying rawing and 1 PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO KOPP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FRAUD-PREVENTION MEANS FOR GASOLINE PUMPS.

Application filed February 4, 1922. Serial No. 534,113.

subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one desirable and practical embodiment of the invention and in which similarreference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is an edge view of the pump operating mechanism with one of the support in frame elements therefor;

ig. 2 is a side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing I have illustrated only so much of the pump mechanism as is necessary to a complete understanding of the manner of application and operation of my present invention. To this end I have shown a part of the supporting frame structure 5. A shaft 6 is journaled in the upper end of this frame structure and carstructure. A gear 13 is also loosely mounted on the shaft 12 and at one side has a hub 14 provided with recesses or notches 15 to receive a plurality of clutch lugs 16 formed upon one side of the sprocket wheel 11.

The gear wheel 13 is in constant meshing engagement with a relativel wide pinion 17 at one end of which the rate et 18 is formed. This pinion and ratchet are loosely mounted on a stud shaft 19 fixed in one end of a suitable supporting bracket 20 secured to the frame 5. A awl 21 is also p-ivotally mounted at one of its ends as at 22, upon said bracket and is yieldingly held at its other end in engagement With the teeth of the ratchet 18 bmeans of the spring 23. As will be clear y seen from reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the pawl and ratchet will permit of the rotation of the gear 13 in only one direction. As herein shown, this gear is rotated by means of a suitable crank handle 24-. fixed at one of its ends tothe hub to the operating mechanism of an integrator 26 which may be of any preferred type. The gear ratios are accurately determined in accordance with the diameter and stroke of the pump piston so that each gallon of gasoline discharged will be registered or indieated upon the integrator 26.

It is of course understood that a suitable housing as indicated at 27 completely covers the operating mechanism for the pump piston above described so that access may not be had thereto.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to withdraw gasoline from the pump the gear 13 is forced inwardly on the shaft 12 so as to clutch the same to the sprocket wheel 11. The crank handle 2 1 is then moved in an anti-clockwise direction so that rotation is transmitted to the pinion 7 to raise the pump piston and discharge the gasoline. With each gallon discharged, the units digit wheel of the integrator 26 is moved one step. When the pump piston has been moved upwardly to the limit of its stroke, the gear 13 is pulled outwardly on the shaft 12 and disconnected from the sprocket wheel 11 so that the pump piston may dro 3 by gravity while the gears 13 and 17 and tie ratchet mechanism will remain stationary. It will thus be apparent that it is impossible to extract gasoline from the pump without actuating the integrator 26 so that the proprietor may ascertain by checking up the receipts whether or not a full accounting has been rendered for the gasoline dispensed from the machine.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the present invention will be clearly and fully understood. The improved fraud preventing device is in the nature of an attachment which can be readily applied to existing types of gasoline service pumps, without necessitating any radical alterations in the construction or arrangement of the mechanism. The device is also very effective for the purpose in view and will absolutely prevent the fraudulent withdrawal of gasoline by the operation of the pump mechanism. I have herein shown and described an adaptation of my present invention which I have found to be very satisfactory in practical operation. It will, therefore, be apparent that the device is susceptible of embodiment in numerous other alternative forms and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly considered within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pump operating mechanism including a driving member and an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, manually operable means adapted to be detachably connected to said driving member, and means automatically operable to prevent the alternate actuation of said manually operable means and the driving member in reverse directions.

2. In combination with a pump operating mechanism including a driving member and an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a shiftable manually operable gear and clutch means for detachably connecting the same to said driving member,

and an inaccessible pawl and ratchet mechanism coacting with. said gear to prevent rotation of the gear and said driving mem ber alternately in reverse directions.

3. In combination with a pump operating mechanism including a driving member and an integratoroperatively connected with said mechanism, a manually operable shiftable gear and clutch means for detachably connecting the same to said driving member, a pinion with which said gear is in constant mesh, and a pawl and ratchet permitting rotation of the pinion in only one direction whereby the rotation of said gear and the driving member alternately in reverse directions, is prevented.

4. In combination with a pump operatin mechanism, including a driving member and an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a manually operated gear slidably mounted upon a shaft and having a clutchface adapted to interlock with said driving member, a pinion with which said gear is in constant mesh, and means for permitting the rotationof the pinion in only one direction whereby the rotation of said gear and driving, member in the reverse direction is prevented.

5. In combination with a pump operating mechanism, including a driving member and an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a manually operated gear slidably mounted upon a shaft and havin a clutch face adapted to interlock with sai driving member, a pinion with which said gear is in constant mesh, and a pawl and ratchet for permitting the rotation of the pinion in only one direction whereby the rotation of said gear and driving mechanism in the reverse direction is prevented.

6. In combination with a pump operatin mechanism, including a driving member and an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a manually operated gear slidably mounted upon a shaftand having a clutch face adapted to interlock with said driving member, a pinion with which said gear is in constant mesh, a ratchet carried by the pinion, and a pawl engaging said ratchet for permitting the rotation of the pinion in only one direction whereby the rotation of said gear and driving mechanism in the reverse direction is prevented.

7. In combination with a ump operatin mechanism, including a driving member an an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a manual] operated gear slidabl mounted upon the s aft and havin a clutc face on one side adapted to interlocfi with the clutch face carried by the drivin member, an elongated pinion with whic said gear is in constant mesh, a ratchet carried by said gear, and a pawl engaging said ratchet for permittin the rotation of the pinion in only one irection whereby the rotation of said gear and driving member in the reverse direction is prevented.

8. In combination with "a' ump operating mechanism, including a d i'iving member having a clutch face, an integrator operatively connected with said mechanism, a.

manually operated ar slidably mounted upon a shaft and aving a clutch face adapted to interlock with the clutch face carried by the driving member, a pinion with which said gear is in constant mesh, a ratchet carried by the pinion, a pawl engaging the ratchet} for permitting the rotation of the pinion in onl one direction whereby the rotation of sai gear and driving member in the reverse direction is prevented.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereun er.

HUGO KOPP. 

